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Voice of the Imagination, whole no. 4, Summer 1945

Page 8

8

I believed Fantasy Magazine--constantly referred to in the letters' sections--was a professional magazine, and wasted much time in Woolworths, hunting amongst movie magazines for the desideratum. Since then, however, we have been hardened to hekto-ing and duplicating. Madge looks out of place. '' Another thing that is out of place is Art Widner's letter. Phonetikese is all right coming from Forry, because he knows how to handle it. But, as Thompson points out, ordinary English is good enough for the rest of us. I can't quite make out the sense of his last sentence. Personally I don't care whether people fight for FooFoo or liberty or cash so long as they fight. '' Sam Moskowitz seems annoyed. Somebody hurting his feelings? '' Did Ray Bradbury ever use that article I sent him? (No, but while there's life there's hope & while there's Bradbury there's a Ray of life!) -- I have discovered, or re-discovered, that I like Milt Rothman. Do I remember him in connection with some argument back in the Gernback Wonder? From what he says the Roberts boy sounds fascinating also, but apparently I've missed a VoM, because I remember nothing of him beyond a slightly hysterical letter of apostasy. But Milty, you needn't be so sorry for him. Because you know and I know that in a few years' (or months') time he will suddenly build an extension on his sense of humor and discover that he can still glance through TWS before breakfast, and before he gets down to John Steinbeck and that novel he's writing. Because he will be writing a novel -- you are, aren't you Milty? '' Speer, I observe, is still being the bold iconoclast, but Public School and a White Man under the Old School Tie. I hardly know whether it will depress him to learn that I, too, have been taken in by the MoI--to say nothing of Dave McIlwain and (in rather higher circles) Strachey and Joad and Gallancz. Remind me to send him a copy of TRIBUNE. '' Reading Vol Molesworth's letter made me sympathise with him, since diabetics aren't allowed sweet foods. But--like Milty--I finished by being sorry for myself; because I remembered that getting a bar of chocolate is now almost as easy as climbing the Matterhorn. I have to suck Brompton Lozenges all day, although I haven't a cold whatever. When the war is over I am going to make myself horribly sick on chocolate. '' So Ted is enjoying army life? Funny, that we have to get the news via Los Ang., Ed1! I doubt if I shall, because I had four years in the school of O.T.C. (Officer's Training Corps) and loathed it immensely. I gained a couple of stripes in the local Home Guard, too, but threw them up after disagreement with authority. Talking of lulls, the weather has stopped all bombing for the last fortnight. Today was beautiful, but it's dark now and--there goes the alert!"

Long time no hear from WALT MARCONETTE, who returns with an earful (we hope nextime he rites he'll include an eyeful: one of his famous fanettes) -- his adres, 2709 E 2 St. Dayton, O: "Thankee muchly for the January issue of Voice of the Imagination and your not too subtle hint that I won't be receiving it unless I kick in with the necessary cash. Well, if you must be nasty about such things, I suppose there's only one thing I can do--so I'll try to do it before the next issue is due. '' In this issue I liked best Carnell's letters, the various bits of lithography, and the cover. The gal with the bugle looks vaguely familiar; could it be that she bears some slight resemblance to Marconette's creations of two or three years ago? '' As a philatelist, I took more than a passing glance at your editorial page. Your plan is splendid in many respects, but it can be improved upon. Why not start with the $5 stamp and work backwards. Incidentally, while we're on the subject, how many stamp collectors are there in fandom? I know of three: Charles R. Tanner, Harry Warner, Jr., and myself; and the Decker boys could probably contribute one or two. (I've 6000 -- 4e) '' You know, it's just occurred to me that VOM is entertaining, but not educational. And Papa Gernsback can tell you that all science fiction magazines, fan or professional, are traitors to their name if they don't contribute something to their readers' knowledge. 'But,' you hurriedly inquire, 'what can we teach fandom? The boys (and girls--we mustn't forget them or Marconette will be wearing a halo of bumps on his cranium) are so smart now that they're planning to rebuild the world.' And that is just the point. The average fan is so intelligent that there's no logical reason why he shouldn't be a genius. '' In case you're interested in the formula, here it is: ''First you find a dictionary, preferably a large one. This will enable you to use larger words than you are wont to do, and will consequently make you sound more impressive. Now you sit down and compose a fan article. It can be concerned with any subject, but somewhere in its lines you must let the prospective reader know that you're a genius.

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8 I believed Fantasy Magazine--constantly referred to in the letters' sections--was a professional magazine, and wasted much time in Woolworths, hunting amongst movie magazines for the desideratum. Since then, however, we have been hardened to hekto-ing and duplicating. Madge looks out of place. '' Another thing that is out of place is Art Widner's letter. Phonetikese is all right coming from Forry, because he knows how to handle it. But, as Thompson points out, ordinary English is good enough for the rest of us. I can't quite make out the sense of his last sentence. Personally I don't care whether people fight for FooFoo or liberty or cash so long as they fight. '' Sam Moskowitz seems annoyed. Somebody hurting his feelings? '' Did Ray Bradbury ever use that article I sent him? (No, but while there's life there's hope & while there's Bradbury there's a Ray of life!) -- I have discovered, or re-discovered, that I like Milt Rothman. Do I remember him in connection with some argument back in the Gernback Wonder? From what he says the Roberts boy sounds fascinating also, but apparently I've missed a VoM, because I remember nothing of him beyond a slightly hysterical letter of apostasy. But Milty, you needn't be so sorry for him. Because you know and I know that in a few years' (or months') time he will suddenly build an extension on his sense of humor and discover that he can still glance through TWS before breakfast, and before he gets down to John Steinbeck and that novel he's writing. Because he will be writing a novel -- you are, aren't you Milty? '' Speer, I observe, is still being the bold iconoclast, but Public School and a White Man under the Old School Tie. I hardly know whether it will depress him to learn that I, too, have been taken in by the MoI--to say nothing of Dave McIlwain and (in rather higher circles) Strachey and Joad and Gallancz. Remind me to send him a copy of TRIBUNE. '' Reading Vol Molesworth's letter made me sympathise with him, since diabetics aren't allowed sweet foods. But--like Milty--I finished by being sorry for myself; because I remembered that getting a bar of chocolate is now almost as easy as climbing the Matterhorn. I have to suck Brompton Lozenges all day, although I haven't a cold whatever. When the war is over I am going to make myself horribly sick on chocolate. '' So Ted is enjoying army life? Funny, that we have to get the news via Los Ang., Ed1! I doubt if I shall, because I had four years in the school of O.T.C. (Officer's Training Corps) and loathed it immensely. I gained a couple of stripes in the local Home Guard, too, but threw them up after disagreement with authority. Talking of lulls, the weather has stopped all bombing for the last fortnight. Today was beautiful, but it's dark now and--there goes the alert!" Long time no hear from WALT MARCONETTE, who returns with an earful (we hope nextime he rites he'll include an eyeful: one of his famous fanettes) -- his adres, 2709 E 2 St. Dayton, O: "Thankee muchly for the January issue of Voice of the Imagination and your not too subtle hint that I won't be receiving it unless I kick in with the necessary cash. Well, if you must be nasty about such things, I suppose there's only one thing I can do--so I'll try to do it before the next issue is due. '' In this issue I liked best Carnell's letters, the various bits of lithography, and the cover. The gal with the bugle looks vaguely familiar; could it be that she bears some slight resemblance to Marconette's creations of two or three years ago? '' As a philatelist, I took more than a passing glance at your editorial page. Your plan is splendid in many respects, but it can be improved upon. Why not start with the $5 stamp and work backwards. Incidentally, while we're on the subject, how many stamp collectors are there in fandom? I know of three: Charles R. Tanner, Harry Warner, Jr., and myself; and the Decker boys could probably contribute one or two. (I've 6000 -- 4e) '' You know, it's just occurred to me that VOM is entertaining, but not educational. And Papa Gernsback can tell you that all science fiction magazines, fan or professional, are traitors to their name if they don't contribute something to their readers' knowledge. 'But,' you hurriedly inquire, 'what can we teach fandom? The boys (and girls--we mustn't forget them or Marconette will be wearing a halo of bumps on his cranium) are so smart now that they're planning to rebuild the world.' And that is just the point. The average fan is so intelligent that there's no logical reason why he shouldn't be a genius. '' In case you're interested in the formula, here it is: ''First you find a dictionary, preferably a large one. This will enable you to use larger words than you are wont to do, and will consequently make you sound more impressive. Now you sit down and compose a fan article. It can be concerned with any subject, but somewhere in its lines you must let the prospective reader know that you're a genius.